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Friday, June 15, 2012

Guest Post: Twin Bred by Karen A. Wyle

I have the pleasure today to bring you a guest post from author Karen A. Wyle about her new sci fi book, Twin Bred.

Synopsis:

Can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb?

In
Twin-Bred, the human colony on Tofarn and the indigenous Tofa have
great difficulty communicating with and basically comprehending each
other. Scientist Mara Cadell, who lost a fraternal twin in utero,
proposes that host mothers of either or both species carry twins, one
human and one Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge
the gap between species. Mara has secretly kept her own twin, Levi,
alive in her mind as a companion and collaborator.

Mara succeeds
in obtaining governmental backing for her project – but both the human
and Tofa establishments have their own agendas. Mara must shepherd the
Twin-Bred through dangers she anticipated and others that even the canny
Levi could not foresee. Will the Twin-Bred bring peace, war, or
something else entirely?...

I asked Karen how she came up with the idea of for her book and what inspired her. Here is her answer:

When I decided, in late October 2010,
to take part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) that
November, I needed a story to tell -- and I needed one in a hurry. As
I sat down to come up with some book ideas, science fiction kept
happening. At about the same time, I read an article about amazing
interactions between twins in utero, captured on video. The
researchers had found synchronized movement, touching, even kissing.
Either the article or a comment on the article mentioned the
traumatic, often devastating, impact on those whose twin -- identical
or fraternal -- had died in utero or shortly after birth.

Straining this information through the
science fiction filter in my mind, I imagined a scientist seeking to
overcome the comprehension gap between two intelligent species by way
of the bond between twins. It would be natural for the scientist who
conceived this idea to be a twin. It would add emotional depth to the
story if she were a twin survivor. And for added strangeness and
interest, what if she had somehow kept her lost twin alive as a
companion, who could be a character in the story? . . .

So far, so good. I had a starting
point. What I didn't have, as I plunged into NaNoWriMo, was a plot,
let alone an ending. What would happen to the Twin-Bred project? What
sort of aliens were the Tofa, and how would the Twin-Bred Tofa differ
from the rest? I also lacked characters. What sort of personality
could Mara's dead twin have? Who else would step forward and become
part of the story?

It didn't take me long to discover that
Levi had plenty of personality, and none of it much like Mara's. Mara
is blunt, driven, impatient, and socially isolated. Levi is cynical,
clever, sly, sardonic; he would probably have enjoyed mingling with
others in order to dissect them later on. What they share is a deep
bond of affection. Levi is Mara's protector, where possible, as well
as her companion.

Two host mothers -- humans who
volunteered to carry Twin-Bred -- introduced themselves early on.
Laura Hanson and Veda Seeling, childhood friends, are another
unlikely pair. Laura is as straightforward as Mara, but warm and
kind, with none of Mara's abrasiveness. Veda hides her
vulnerabilities behind a highly polished exterior and patronizing
demeanor.

When I started the story, it had no
villains besides human nature and the inevitability of unintended
consequences. Councilman Kimball emerged fairly late in the process,
and I had to go back and put him where he belonged. I hope the reader
will view him with understanding -- which is not to say I agree with
the adage that to understand all is to forgive all.

As for the ending -- it took a while
for me to find it out. Stories reveal themselves in their own time.
But for an author, there's nothing like the thrill of that
revelation, when it comes.

Thank you so much Karen for stopping by today and telling us all a little bit more about your book!

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About Me

I am a full time mom and avid reader. When I am not playing dress up or chasing down lost toys and wrestling with the never ending pile of laundry, I read. Actually, I read whenever I get the chance. I love many different genres and would have a hard time choosing just one favorite book. And yes I really am obsessed with books, in fact I might be a book hoarder. Thankfully I have a Kindle and no one is the wiser to my vastly growing collection of books.